Fumbling Towards Ecstasy

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Editorial reviews

Amazon.co.uk Review
On the other side of the Atlantic, pre-Lilith Fair, McLachlan had critical acclaim and a cult following but was otherwise just another hard-working female singer/songwriter--one who wasn't blasting down doors with overt sexuality or popping along in front of a male Svengali. Similar in their emotional urgency to her more recent work but delightfully less polished, these folk-rock songs are surprising gems. If not for McLachlan's poignant vocals, lyrics like "Your love is better than ice cream" (on "Ice Cream") would sound childishly absurd (especially alongside deeper material like "Hold On"), but here they're given just as much respect as the weightier issues she explores. A great album to accompany your moments of introspection. --Rebecca Wallwork

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Customer reviews

review by: izumi date: 2008-06-01 rating:
Fumbling towards perfection
It has taken me a while to come around to Sarah's music. Perhaps this is because I was not mature enough to appreciate it when she first started out (I was a teenager when this album was originally released). My tastes have changed over the years and I am glad that I didn't buy this until I was 'ready' for it. FUMBLING TOWARDS ECSTASY is a beautiful album, but as another has pointed out, there are moments that the pain drips from her words.
People on Amazon have starred this as her masterpiece - because this is the first and only album that I have by Sarah, I cannot comment on the validity of this, but what I can say is that the amount of talent she has is undeniable. Her lyrics are intelligent and can almost read like poetry. She also has an amazing voice - shown to great effect on my favourite track from the album, "Good Enough", which is a brilliant ballad.
A highly recommended album - having heard this, I am now desperate to get my hands on her album, SURFACING.

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review by: date: 2007-09-27 rating:
Most Haunting Voice & The Best Ballads You Will Ever Hear.
Proportionally to the population, Canada is blessed with a great number of talented performance artists. And Sarah McLachlan is an excellent example.
Maybe it's the Great North expanses; the Toronto sprawl blandness; the eternal adolescence of the Canadian psyche; the freshly disillusioned naiveté of a nation of great poets and performers.

Sarah McLachlan is a GREAT SINGER. And this is her BEST ALBUM! I have FUMBLING TOWARDS ECSTASY (together with all her albums) since my university years - God bless the DUE SOUTH TV Series that exposed me to her absolutely haunting voice! I have been playing it numerous times over the years, one could not get tired of this collection. The pieces are all gems, from start to finish! The music speaks directly to the soul, such poetic lyrics are so hard to find anymore and Sarah's voice will haunt you forever...

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!!

EASTER EGG: Wait after the last track is over and let the CD play: there is an acoustic (piano only) version of Possession that you will never forget...

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review by: Tokyoite date: 2007-08-20 rating:
Not just a beautiful album
I feel a little odd when people say 'Fumbling Towards Ecstasy' is a beautiful album. I have been listening to this album for more than 10 years now - yes, it is a stunning album, but I am much more overwhelmed with the pain that seeps from the lyrics every time I listen to the tracks.



Voices trapped in yearning
Memories trapped in time

The night is my companion
And solitude my guide

Would I spend forever here,
and not be satisfied?

Through this world I stumble
So many times betrayed

Trying to find an honest word
to find the truth enslaved

Into this night I wander
It's morning that I dread

Another day of knowing of
The path I fear to tread

Into the sea of waking dreams
I follow without pride



The above is a little extract from the first tune of the album called 'Possession'. Although Sara's concept is slightly different, this song reminds me of a friend of mine who was so naively genuine that he got hurt all the time by other people's exploitations. Once he said, through a haze of alcohol, 'I feel like slit-opening my chest to reveal my heart to God, shouting "What have I done to deserve this?"'... 'Possession' was his favourite song.

The great thing about this CD is the title song which comes (sort of) at the end of the CD goes ...



All the fear has left me now
I'm not frightened anymore

And if I shed a tear I won't cage it
And if I feel a rage I won't deny it

Peace in the struggle to find peace
Comfort on the way to comfort



My friend is now fine even though he drinks a tad too much.

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review by: date: 2007-04-16 rating:
Good acoustic rock
Fumbling towards ecstasy' is considered to be one of McLachlan's most popular pieces of work and along with 'Surfacing' one of her two best-selling albums.

It is a beautiful collection of rock ballads. The lyrics are good, the music is good, Sarah's voice is beautiful, in short it is a very good item to have in a collection. This is mainly material for people that are into rock/soft rock/ folk and enjoy the tunes of Leonard Cohen and/or Sheryl Crowe, although I can't say that any of the two are identical to her.

Next to his CD I would recommend Elisa's "Then Comes the Sun" (which in fact I favour a bit more).

And a small warning: this is exclusively good, relaxing acoustic material. It is not the type of music that will wake you up before storming for an endless night out. It definitely has quality but is not dance material, so don't buy it and then diss it...


review by: date: 2007-03-30 rating:
Simply Stunning Sarah
I'm a bit of late comer to Sarah Mclachlans music having been routed here via Delerium and "Silence". I bought Afterglow some time ago and enjoyed that so next up was Fumbling towards ecstacy. This album is simply stunning...worth the money just for Possession alone, which puts the hairs up on the back of my neck everytime I hear it. Great range of songs and what a voice.

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